This, that, these, those

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This, that, these, those

It's a few weeks before Christmas and Sophie is working in India. She's doing her Christmas shopping in a local market.

Instructions

As you watch the video, look at the examples of this, that, these and those. They are in red in the subtitles. Then read the conversation below to learn more. Finally, do the grammar exercises to check you understand, and can use, this, that, these andthosecorrectly.

We use this/that/these/those to explain what we are talking about. We sometimes use them with nouns and we sometimes use them on their own.

We use this (singular) and these (plural) to talk about things close to us, and that (singular) and those (plural) to talk about things at some distance away from us.

What about this shirt for Oliver?
No, hold on, what about that one over there?

So this is the idea of here and that is the idea of there?

Yes, exactly.

Wow, that market looks amazing. (= there. I'm not in the market, it's at some distance away from me)This market is amazing. (= here. I'm in the market)

What about time? How does time affect this or that?

A good question. We use that to show distance in time as well as distance in space.

This is a good film. (we're watching it now)That was a good film. (we saw it at some time in the past)

Are this/these and that/those always used with nouns?

No, we can use them as pronouns, without nouns, when it's obvious what they refer to.

What do you think about these for your Uncle Bob? (pointing to trousers)
I've never seen Uncle Bob in trousers like those. (those trousers, but we don't need to repeat trousers)
Who was that?

So they are useful words in shops or cafes. If you don't know the word for something, you can just say, 'Can I see that?' or 'I'd like those, please' and point.

Yes, they're very useful words!

I think I've heard this and that refer to more general things too, not just specific things.

That's right. This and that can refer to what somebody has said or what has happened. This could be several things or ideas.

That's right. (everything you said)This is work you know! (all the things I'm doing)That was a great concert! (something that has just happened)

What about phone language? How do people use this and that?

When you explain who is talking you say, 'Hi, this is Dan.'
And to check who is speaking, you can say, 'Is that Jenny?'

Worksheets and downloads

Transcript

Transcript:

Sophie: Darling, hi, it’s me.

Daisy: Hi, Mum.

Sophie: Listen, I’m in a bit of a hurry, but can you help me for a minute?

Daisy: Ummm ... yeah.

Sophie: Well, I’m doing a bit of Christmas shopping and I want your advice. Look. I’m here in the market. Wait a second, I’ll put my video on, OK? Listen, what do you think about these for your Uncle Bob?

Daisy: Mmm ... I’ve never seen Uncle Bob in trousers like those, but they are great! Maybe he needs a bit of colour in his life?!

Yes, I enjoyed it. I have studied this grammar before and it helped me to refresh my knowledge.
I don't think that Oliver will like the shirt, because he has a europian style while that is more a asiatic style.

I was wondering if anyone knows were can be found some English expressions, more difficult ones, that are used very often. I'm participating at English competition, so I need it for practice. Thanks in advance:).

hi ! yea i enjoyed a lot ,it was wonderful conversation between mom and daughter as well. i guess yes oliver would like that shirt but i think he would like the shirt with flowers because her sister told her mother that his brother do like darker colors mostly.

Yes i liked it very much.This Grammar Snack is very helpful.Thank you for your help.I think that Oliver will hate that exotic shirt.It doens't appeal to him.He would prefer e black one instead of that.